5:26 PM,
Feb. 19, 2013

Linebacker Manti Te'o of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish works out at IMG Academy on January 23, 2013 in Bradenton, Florida.

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BRADENTON, Fla. -- When the NFL's scouting combine gets underway in Indianapolis on Wednesday, Manti Te'o figures to be the center of attention for reasons few could have imagined a month and a half ago when the college football season came to a close.

In an exclusive interview with USA TODAY Sports on Monday afternoon, the former Notre Dame linebacker confided that he doesn't believe his now infamous scandal involving a fake online girlfriend will affect his stock in the April 25-27 draft.

The Heisman Trophy runner-up's belief that he remains a first-round pick may be put to the test under the ...